Phyllis Bottome

“ There is a point where a group of rocks run out into the sea. At the rise of the tide they are cut off from the shore, and at the tide's height they are completely engulfed. It was too windy to paint, but Geoffrey felt as if he could watch forever the oncoming of the waves; he loved the feathered flight of them, as the tops seemed to bend above the solid green and then drew back, and were swallowed up, only to fringe it once more in a wild, breaking whiteness as they roared past the black rocks and flung themselves in heaps upon the shore. ”

“ They lay there for a long time, beaten and breathless. Then a wave ran up and licked their feet; that galvanized them into life. They got up stiffly, and, leaning on each other, reached the cliff path. They took shelter in a coast-guard's hut, and Geoffrey told their story, while Fanny, wrapped in blankets, lay on a horsehair sofa, her great eyes fixed on him. ”

“ He tried to gain his footing; then suddenly he failed to ride the oncoming green wave. It broke above them, the surf caught them, smothering over their heads with a deafening roar. His struggle stopped. ”